Category

Aspen Culture and Nightlife

adminstew
In Aspen, Aspen Access, Aspen Culture and Nightlife, Aspen Market, resources

Effort Aims To Boost Pitkin County’s Cell Coverage

Eventual relief may be in sight for cellphone users affected by the annoying holes in service in the Roaring Fork Valley and dead zones in places such as the Fryingpan and Crystal valleys.

Pitkin County has embarked on a study to find out where service is lacking and where there might be opportunities to install towers to boost cellular and broadband coverage.

“It became clear through the report findings that the county’s geography is extremely prohibitive in providing ubiquitous service,” said a recent memo from county staff members to the county commissioners. The county study collected 4 million data points throughout the area to determine where improvements are needed, according to County Manager Jon Peacock.

Nearly all carriers lack sufficient coverage in seven general areas of the broader Roaring Fork basin. Those are: along Highway 133 south of Carbondale, along Frying Pan Road east of Basalt, in a large portion of Snowmass Village, along Highway 82 east of Aspen, on Castle Creek Road, on Maroon Creek Road and on major portions of all four ski areas.

Now, the county is prioritizing sites to determine which to try to improve first. The Pitkin County Public Safety Council was consulted to find out where its efforts would be enhanced with increased service.

Click here to read the entire article.

adminstew
In Aspen, Aspen Culture and Nightlife, Aspen Ski Resort, resources

Aspen Ski Company Harnesses Methane From Coal Plant for Energy

Another ski area has harnessed the power of methane to create electricity — but this time much less manure is involved.

Aspen Ski Co. has partnered with Elk Creek coal mine, Holy Cross Energy and Vessels Coal Gas to harness the methane gas vented from the coal mine in Somerset.

The mine typically would vent the methane — a greenhouse gas that is more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat the in atmosphere — to protect the safety of the mine workers. By capturing the previously wasted gas, the 3 megawatt project can produce about the same amount of energy Aspen Ski Co. uses in a season: 24 million kilowatt hours, according to the ski company.

In a report on sustainability efforts, the company states that the project eliminates three times as much greenhouse pollution — in the form of methane — as the resort produces each year.

The switched was flipped on the generator Nov. 9, and power from a truck engine burning methane from the mine began to hit the utility grid.

Aspen Ski Co. reports that it invested $5.5 million in the project.

adminstew
In Aspen, Aspen Culture and Nightlife, Aspen Recreation, resources

Luxe Camping in Aspen a High-Altitude Alternative to Glitzy Cocktail Parties

Leave it to the creative minds of Aspen to come up with a ritzy wilderness experience that is so in tune with the lifestyles of the rich and famous who play there that rather than luxury camping, they’ve dubbed this overnight under the stars as “glamping.”

Summer visitors in the Rocky Mountain playpen can put away their Chanel and Hermés labels for a night of wilderness lite thanks to the Aspen Skiing Co.

Click here to read details of the Glamping Experience.

adminstew
In Aspen, Aspen Culture and Nightlife, resources

New Belgium to Open Snowmass Bar, Resturant

Local craft brewery New Belgium will be opening a restaurant and bar at the Snowmass ski resort in Aspen, Colorado in mid-November. The brewery will be partnering with Westin Resorts and Patches O’Houllihan, Inc. to bring Colorado’s specialty beer scene to an international destination.

The establishments in Snowmass will attempt to showcase Colorado beer culture and New Belgium specialty beers to a wide audience while keeping the successful brewery’s identity as a small town brewer.

Click here to read the entire article.